April 2011
32 posts
3 tags
Drop Off Unused Prescription Drugs on Saturday
If you have old prescription drugs sitting in your medicine cabinet, you can get rid of them safely on Saturday. The Drug Enforcement Administration will hold a National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, when you will be able to drop off expired, unneeded or unused prescription drugs at events across the country. Prescription drug abuse is a fast-growing problem in the United States. In 2009, more...
Apr 29th
1 note
6 tags
WatchWatch
April 27 and 28, 2011 brought the deadliest tornado outbreak in the United States since 1974. For the latest information on how to help tornado survivors and apply for assistance, please visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) blog. The above animation is from from NASA Earth Observatory: The animation starts on April 26 and runs through the morning of April 28. The...
Apr 29th
65 notes
2 tags
Learn how your tax dollars are spent →
Follow the above link to learn how the government spends the money you pay in taxes. From the White House: In his State of the Union Address, President Obama promised that this year, for the first time ever, American taxpayers would be able to go online and see exactly how their federal tax dollars are spent. Just enter a few pieces of information about your taxes, and the taxpayer receipt will...
Apr 29th
11 notes
7 tags
What to do After a Tornado
When you return to a damaged home or business after a tornado, you should take extra precaution to stay safe: Check the foundation, porches, and overhangs for damage. If you find obvious damage, ask that a building inspector check the building first. Enter the building carefully - if a door sticks at the top as it opens, it could mean the ceiling is ready to cave in. Do not walk under a sagging...
Apr 28th
19 notes
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Apr 28th
35 notes
1 tag
Pick Five for the Environment
Can you make a few little changes in your life to lessen your personal impact on the environment? Use biodegradable and environmentally friendly home cleaning products to help keep our water clean. Plant a garden this spring, or shop at your local farmers market so you don’t have to rely on produce trucked long distances to your grocery store. Compost your food scraps instead of throwing them...
Apr 27th
5 notes
3 tags
Tools to Teach Kids About Personal Finance
Being an educated consumer with the ability to make sound financial decisions isn’t just an important skill for an adult. It’s never too early to start teaching a child to manage money wisely. It may be one of the most valuable life skills you can teach them. In honor of Financial Literacy Month, here are some tools you can use to help teach your kids about spending, saving and earning. For...
Apr 26th
10 notes
4 tags
Apr 25th
30 notes
4 tags
Apr 22nd
13 notes
1 tag
Go Green Earth Day and Every Day
Everyone wants to breathe clean air, drink healthy water and build homes and communities on lands free of contaminants. For more than 40 years, the health safeguards the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency enforces have helped to fulfill these basic expectations. But we can’t work alone. We all have to play a role. We can do simple things like fix leaks in our homes, use reusable bags at the...
Apr 22nd
6 notes
3 tags
Enter the Flu App Challenge
Enter the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Flu App Challenge and you could win $15,000. All you have to do is create a web app, game or tool that teaches the public how to prevent and treat the flu using information from the CDC. The deadline for submissions is May, 27. Read the rules and enter at fluapp.challenge.gov.
Apr 21st
5 notes
3 tags
New National Terrorism Advisory System Replaces...
Terrorism threats will no longer be classified as “yellow” “orange” or “red” under the new National Terrorism Advisory System. The new system will communicate information about terrorist threats by providing timely, detailed information to the public, government agencies, first responders, airports and other transportation hubs, and the private sector. This is...
Apr 20th
20 notes
2 tags
Find Earth Day Events in Your Community
Events are happening all around the country this week to observe Earth Day. Many communities are planning festivals with music, food, kids games, volunteer projects, and more. The Environmental Protection Agency can help you find Earth Day activities in your community. Remember, you don’t have to attend an event to celebrate Earth Day. EPA also has Earth Day tips that you and your family...
Apr 19th
11 notes
2 tags
Apr 19th
44 notes
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The FBI: A Centennial History, 1908-2008
From the Government Printing Office: In 2008, the FBI celebrated its 100 anniversary and, as part of that celebration, released, The FBI: A Centennial History, 1908-2008. This 130-page coffee table book features detailed accounts of more than 40 famous FBI cases; over 300 photographs, including many never before seen by the public; and abundant reference materials on fallen agents, FBI...
Apr 18th
7 notes
3 tags
National Park Week →
National Park Week starts today! Visit any of your 394 national parks for free until April 24.
Apr 16th
30 notes
2 tags
How to Pick the Right College
High school seniors across the country are starting to receive college acceptance letters, and it’s time for them to decide which school is right for them. Here are some helpful questions to consider: Does the school offer the courses and type of program that interest you? Does the school offer the services you require and activities that interest you? What are the school’s graduation...
Apr 15th
1 note
2 tags
“The United States condemns the Qadhafi regime’s continued brutal attacks on the...”
– U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton (via The U.S. Department of State)
Apr 15th
116 notes
4 tags
Apr 15th
11 notes
2 tags
Apr 14th
9 notes
4 tags
Apr 13th
112 notes
2 tags
Show the Environmental Protection Agency How You...
There’s still time to demonstrate your commitment to environmental protection, and be a part of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) “It’s My Environment Video Project.” To make your video, just hold up and read a sign that says “It’s My Environment” while taking an action to protect the environment like recycling, turning off lights, or turning off the tap...
Apr 13th
3 notes
2 tags
vaccines.gov →
At the new Vaccines.gov you’ll find vaccine recommendations and learn about the diseases vaccines can prevent. You’ll also find information from your state on vaccine requirements for children entering school or child care, and tips for the vaccines you might need to travel abroad.
Apr 12th
7 notes
4 tags
Apr 12th
104 notes
3 tags
Safe Social Networking
Social media websites and applications are a now normal part of everyday life, allowing you to connect with friends and family across the world. Some of the newer social media tools use GPS technology that allow you to “check in” by posting your location on social media channels to receive special offers from retailers. While it is tempting to keep your friends updated on your life, these posts...
Apr 11th
14 notes
4 tags
Apr 8th
30 notes
3 tags
Apr 8th
40 notes
3 tags
Avoid Tax Refund Fees
With the tax filing deadline quickly approaching, you might hear ads persuading you that you can get your tax refund faster with a tax refund loan (also known as a refund anticipation loan). A tax refund loan is a loan from a paid tax preparer, based on the amount of money you are expected to receive as a refund. It may seem like a great way to get your money within a couple of days, but the...
Apr 7th
15 notes
3 tags
Look Out for Phishing Scams
Over the weekend, thousands of people learned that their email addresses had been compromised as the result of an unauthorized entry into the systems of Epsilon Interactive, an email service provider. If you received one of the alerts, you should be extra vigilant about the kind of emails you receive and which ones you choose to open or answer. Because of this security breach, you may be at an...
Apr 6th
11 notes
3 tags
Apr 5th
7 notes
4 tags
What You Need to Know About Reverse Mortgages
If you are a senior and need to supplement your income, you might be considering a reverse mortgage. A “reverse” mortgage is a loan against your home that you don’t have to pay back for as long as you live there. When the home is sold, the lenders recover the principal, plus interest, on the loan. The remaining value of the home goes to you or your heirs. With a reverse mortgage, you can turn...
Apr 4th
14 notes
4 tags
Help Wake the Next NASA Shuttle Crew
“Moving HTV to a new docking port” by European Space Agency astronaut Paolo Nespoli on Flickr. You can help decide which songs will wake up astronauts on the next space shuttle mission. The NASA Space Rock Committee invited musicians to write songs to awaken shuttle astronauts and received 1,350 original songs. The committee has narrowed the songs down to 10 finalists and needs your...
Apr 1st
27 notes